radguide

24 Radiation for Radionuclide Users For gamma and x-ray exposures and for most beta particles exposures, the numerical value of the rem or sievert is essentially equal to that for the rad or gray, respectively. Radiation Risk The risk estimates of cancer or genetic effects from low doses of radiation are based upon conservative extrapolation of the risks associated with high doses. This is due to the fact that the risk is too small to give meaningful numbers using only low dose data. In an average group of 10,000 people, we can expect about 1,833 to eventually die from cancer. A report from the National Research Council has stated that, if 10,000 workers were to each receive a radiation dose of 1 rem in a single exposure, we could estimate that 8 of those 10,000 will eventually die from cancer due to that radiation exposure. Thus, a single dose of 1 rem is seen to increase the risk of death due to cancer from 18.33% to 18.41%. Another way of expressing the risk from exposure to radiation is by computing the average number of days of life expectancy lost due to various doses. These values can then be compared to life expectancy losses computed for other activities. (See Table 2). The estimates in Table 2 indicate that the health risks from occupational radiation exposure are no greater than the risks associated with many other activities and events encountered in life. It is also important to note that the average occupational exposure resulting from the types and quantities of radioactive materials used in typical research labs is much less than the 1 rem/year indicated in the table.